EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation

Jaspreet Singh, a 24-year-old Indian student living in Dublin, and 24-year-old Latvian woman Irina Kudinova, were arrested in Newry's (southern Northern Ireland) Register Office last September, just as the bogus service was about to begin, writes LETA.

Two 33-year-old Indian men, Jarmal Singh Minhas and Karamjit Singh – also living in Dublin and who acted as witnesses – were also detained.

Last week, all four were sentenced by the city's court for attempting to cheat UK immigration rules.

Earl Aiken, senior criminal investigator for the UK Border Agency, said they are working to crack down on this type of crime.

He said: "This case shows how people are prepared to enter into a marriage with someone they barely know to help them cheat the immigration system in exchange for cash. "The UK Border Agency is cracking down on sham marriages and those who seek to cheat immigration laws face prosecution and conviction."

Kudinova received an 11 month sentence suspended for three years and fined GBP 1,000, while Singh – who was illegally in the UK – was sentenced to 11 months suspended for three years and fined GBP 2,000.

Jarmal Singh Minhas and Karamjit Singh were both given 11 month sentences suspended for three years and fined GBP 2,000 each for assisting unlawful immigration.